Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-09-16
A REMARKABLE WOMAN.
SEPTlMIA J. MElKLEHAM, GRAND
DAUGHTER OF JEFFERSON.
Woman Past 20 Who Seems to be In
Her Fifties-Her Memories OF Andrew
jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Dolly
Madison-Her Own Life History.
special Correspondence.l

! Madison-Her Own Life History.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8. Il called the
| other night upon one of the most remark
able old ladies now living 1t is Mrs.
| Septima J. Meikleham, Thomas JEFF
ferson's granddaughter. She is now
over 70, and is the only one of Martha
.Jefferson's daughters still living The
features of the great president stand
out in every line of her countenance
She is tall, well formed woman,
with a fine looking face bright
blue eyes and rosy checks. She looks to
be rather in her fifties than in her severn
| ties, and her face is plump and almost
free from wrinkles. Her forehead Is broad
and high, and her auburn hair is the same
color as that of jefferson before it turned
to gray. She combs her hair behind her
ears in the good old style of the past She
dresses plainly but well, and with pretty
lace cap, which she sometimes wears, she
Is as handsome q lady Of 70 as have ever
known. She is a charming talker and her
voice is very sweet and pleasant. She chats
very freely about the prominent people she
has known, and in response to my ques-
tons she told HE much about herself.
Her mother was Jeffcrson's favorite
whole of his public life, who did the hon
ors of the White House while he was
president and who took care of him in his
old age until he died at Monticello, leav.
ing large estate to be swallowed up by
his debts. Shortly after his death Mar
tina Jefferson's husband, Thomas Mann
Randolph, ex-governor Of Virginia, died
| and left his wife with thirteen children to
care for. or these Septimia, then IA
years DID, was the eleventh child and
seventh daughter. The circumstances of
the family were such that Martha Jeffer-
son thought OF opening female seminary
at Monticello, but before she carried out
! the idea the two states of South Carolina
and Louisiana each presented $4,000 to
her, and on this she lived to the day of
her death.
| The family resided for some time in
Washington, and Mrs Meikleham told
me today how Andrew jackson called
! upon her mother shortly after their
arrival He sent word to Martha Jcffer-
son that he would make the first call, and
| Mrs. Meikleham remembers well the dig
nifty and cordiality of the presidents man
ner.
Septimia became great favorite with
Jackson and she spent much time at the
White House during his administration
81 knew him very WE'LL said she, land
he was perfect gentleman. l have often
heard stories told of his illteracy, his
rudeness and his swearing. But am sure
that such stories are not true concerning
his conduct rs president. never saw him
do an ungentlemanly act nor heard him say
IN improper word. He was the kindest
of men in his social relations, and he de-
lighted in n social chat with his family and
his friends in the evening after dinner.
AT this time the party would gather about
the fire and Gen. jackson would light his
! pipe. We did not consider it ungentle-
manly for him to smoke in the house, and
the evening would be spent in pleasant
talk and music. Jackson was fond of old
songs and tunes. He always asked me to
play, and he would have me play over and
over again Home, Sweet Home and Aud
Lang Syne.' l would sometimes grow
tired of these, and would beg him to let
| me play some of my new pieces, But he
would shake his head and say, There are
no songs like those old tunes, and do not
like the newfangled music,'"
From jackson tho talk drifted to Martin
Van Buren, and the other statesmen Of
that day, and then Mrs. Meikleham spoke
Of her husband. She met him in Cuba,
where she had gone to benefit her health.
He was an eminent doctor, well known to
scientists, and his home was in Glasgow
After she married him she lived well and
money was plenty Her husband made
great deal, but he died leaving nothing of
| account. After his death Mrs Mcikle-
ham lived for some time abroad, but few
years since she returned here and settled in
Washington. She resided for time in
Georgetown, but has since moved to
very comfortable home in the northwest
quarter OF Washington city. She has two
daughters and n son, and the daughters
are employed in the government depart
ments The son has asked for place and
been refused, and congress has rejected
the bill which was introduced asking for
pension for the mother.
Mrs Meikleham says Dolly Madison was
one of the loveliest characters she has
ever known. she was always popular,
and to the last her house was full of
guests. Her husband died leaving her
100000 and the estate OF Montpelier
But her son, Payne Todd. ran through it
all and during a part of her life she was
very poor. Congress then proposed to as
sist her by buying Madison's papers, and
Mrs. Meikleham tells me that Daniel
Webster told her that the delay in passing
this bill was made because they wanted to
put the money in such way that she
NOui't NV GiNC ~ " htI SpcItlllIlil son.
Mrs Madison would not consent TO this
for long time, and she agreed only to the
passage of the bill finally on the under
standing that she should have S., COO tc
use rs she pleased and that the other SEQ
600 should be arranged as congress de-
sired. The result was that the 5000
went to Payne Todd, and it was dissiHated
In very short time Mrs. Madison lived
upon the income Of the other $50 600
until she died along in 1910.
"Whcn did you first know Mrs. Madi-
son. asked.
II knew her when ] was girl at Mon
ucello. My grandfather had room
there that was known as Mrs. Matlison's
room, and it was kept open for her. She
was very kind to me in Washington. and
when was very sick in my girlhood she
watched at my bedside day ftcr day. She
was very fine looking. She was tall, dig
nitled, and she had, even in her old age,
a remarkably white skin. She wore tur-
bans during the whole time that knew
her. These were of linen. white in color,